The game in pictures:

‘We’re going to win the league’, crowed the travelling Kop before delivering a deafening rendition of the club’s famous anthem which echoed around Old Trafford.

There was pride and delight in equal measure as the five-year wait to taste victory down the East Lancs Road was ended in scintillating style.

A pivotal afternoon for the two heavyweights of English football only served to underline that they are heading in opposite directions.

After enduring two decades of sustained United dominance, this triumph confirmed the dawn of a new era in an age-old rivalry.

Having finished 28 points behind them last season, Liverpool currently sit 14 points better off. The Reds’ stunning resurgence under Rodgers has been accompanied by United’s shocking decline.

A sullen-faced Alex Ferguson sat in stunned silence in the directors box as Liverpool provided damning evidence that the empire the Scot built has now crumbled to dust.

The Reds’ return to Europe’s elite next term will coincide with United’s absence from the Champions League for the time since 1995. The balance of power has quickly shifted.

Liverpool have made a mockery of Ferguson’s claims in his autobiography that they “needed eight players to come up to title-winning standard”.

It’s increasingly clear that his judgement was also poor when it came to picking his successor. The Stretford End need to change that banner from ‘The Chosen One’ to ‘The Beleaguered One’.

The contrast between the two managers at Old Trafford was vast. Rodgers watched on from the touchline with relish as his players carried out his instructions to perfection.

This was another tactical masterplan for the Northern Irishman’s growing collection as the midfield diamond he employed ensured the Reds wrestled control of proceedings from start to finish.

Liverpool are a slick, cohesive unit playing an eye-catching brand of attacking football. There is a heady mix of valuable experience and youthful exuberance. Led by an inspirational captain, they just keep raising the bar.

Steven Gerrard scored two penalties and only the woodwork denied him the honour of being the first Liverpool player to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford since Fred Howe in 1936.

The outstanding 33-year-old knows he won’t ever get a better chance than this to clinch the one major honour which has always eluded him. Gerrard played like his life depended on the outcome and brought out the best in those around him.

As players and staff celebrated together in front of the away end after the final whistle, the spirit and unity Rodgers has fostered shone through.

Manchester United FC v Liverpool FC in the Barclays Premier League at Old Trafford. Steven Gerrard is mobbed by team mates after making it 2-0 from the penalty spot. Pic Andrew Teebay.

The manager’s name was sung with vigour – Kopites have taken him to their hearts.

As Rodgers applauded them for their support, David Moyes slipped away staring at the turf.

Even when Liverpool struggled during the early days of last season, you could see what Rodgers was trying to achieve. There was a plan, a style of play he was battling to install.

The same can’t be said of Moyes’ United. Disjointed and lifeless, they were abject in all departments.

His pre-match admission that Liverpool were favourites was akin to raising the white flag. There are echoes of Roy Hodgson’s Anfield reign about Moyes’ tenure – a manager clearly out of his depth desperately trying to dampen expectation levels.

Moyes’ complaints about referee Mark Clattenburg cut no ice. Yes, the third penalty was generous with Nemanja Vidic unfortunate to see red against Liverpool for the fourth time in his career after Daniel Sturridge hurdled his challenge.

However, by then the outcome had already been decided and United got lucky with numerous other decisions as Clattenburg took pity on them.

The Reds should have had a spot-kick inside five minutes with Marouane Fellaini twice clipping Luis Suarez in the box.

When Clattenburg finally awarded a penalty 11 minutes before the break he failed to issue Rafael with the second yellow card his blatant handball demanded. Gerrard stepped up to ensure Liverpool got the breakthrough the quality of their performance deserved.

Jon Flanagan had set the tone with crunching tackles on Juan Mata and Robin van Persie in the opening exchanges.

The composed young full-back is fearless and his display of total commitment was replicated by his team-mates. Raheem Sterling, flourishing at the tip of Rodgers’ diamond, brushed off the attentions of Fellaini like he was an irritating fly.

Jordan Henderson showed Ferguson that his gait is just fine as he ran himself into the ground, while Joe Allen was similarly effective – constantly breaking up play and using the ball intelligently.

United had no answer to the sheer energy and mobility of Gerrard, Allen, Henderson and Sterling, who provided the ammunition for Suarez and Sturridge to run riot.

Sturridge wasted two decent chances before providing the cross field pass to Suarez which enabled the Uruguayan to induce panic and earn the first penalty.

Simon Mignolet acrobatically thwarted Wayne Rooney but it was the Belgian’s only save of the afternoon with centre- backs Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger expertly shackling the ineffective Van Persie.

Just seconds into the second half the Reds doubled their tally. Phil Jones needlessly barged Allen in the back and Gerrard coolly fired beyond David de Gea before racing over to plant a smacker on the camera. It was Gerrard’s ninth goal against United and his fifth in his last six league visits to Old Trafford.

A third penalty went begging after the captain rifled against the upright but Liverpool finished with a flourish.

De Gea clawed one strike from Suarez behind but he was beaten with six minutes to go when the striker clinically dispatched his 25th league goal of the campaign.

The dream of ending that 24-year drought is a significant step closer to becoming reality.